Let's stay United

JI-SUNG Park has told United to put an end to the Carlos Tevez transfer wrangle as Cristiano Ronaldo pledged his immediate future to the club. Argentine international Tevez looks increasingly likely to leave the Premier League and European champions with his two-year loan deal expiring this summer.

JI-SUNG Park has told United to put an end to the Carlos Tevez transfer wrangle as Cristiano Ronaldo pledged his immediate future to the club.

Argentine international Tevez looks increasingly likely to leave the Premier League and European champions with his two-year loan deal expiring this summer.

But Park has urged Sir Alex Ferguson to hand his talented team-mate a permanent deal, claiming he is the best player at Old Trafford.

His plea came as Ronaldo, who has been constantly linked with a move to Real Madrid, insisted he would remain a Red next season.

United maintain the winger is not for sale but if Florentino Perez wins the Madrid presidential elections he is likely to make signing the world player of the year his No 1 priority.

However, Ronaldo claims Perez's efforts would be futile.

"At the moment I'm only thinking about the (Champions League) final independently of what will happen to me or my team-mates next season," he said.

"I'm sure Perez would create an incredible team at Madrid but at the moment I'm at United and I don't care about what happens there.

"I only care about what will happen next season at Manchester United."

While the Reds appear to have reached an impasse with Kia Joorabchian and MSI, who own Tevez's economic rights, over the striker's future, Park is praying that he remains at Old Trafford.

"It would be very disappointing, not just for me, but everyone at United if he left because he is the best player so we need him," said the South Korean international. "We know that. Hopefully he will stay.

“This season when he's come on the pitch he has scored a lot of goals, helped the team and saved the team. It is only Carlos who can do that., compared to other players. He works hard and scores a lot of goals.”

Tevez's future remains shrouded in uncertainty with United baulking at the £26m asking price being demanded by MSI.

United already paid in the region of £6m to sign him on loan for two years, which would make the 25-year-old one of the most expensive players in the history of British football if the move was made permanent.

Ferguson stated last week that only a compromise in his valuation could lead to a deal being secured, which means it is increasingly likely next week's Champions League final could will be Tevez's last appearance for the club.

City, Liverpool and Real Madrid will head the queue to sign him if he quits Old Trafford at the end of the season.

Tevez has revealed his frustration over United's failure to resolve his future once and for all and admits the final against Barcelona could well be his farewell performance.

“Maybe it will be my last game and maybe it won't,” he said. “I don't know.

“I am not sure whether I will start next week. It is a decision for the manager.”

“I will prepare well. That is all I can do. I would like to play but there are some very good players here, so I will just wait.”

Tevez has also been frustrated by Ferguson's rotation policy, with the striker often overlooked in favour of Dimitar Berbatov.

Park, who has built a close personal relationship with the former West Ham striker, has had to come to terms with being a squad player himself – but he understands Tevez's predicament.

“Every player has a different mind,” he said. “Some want to play every game, some want to be at a big club and just help the team. They accept how big the squad is and their role.

“If they don't like their role then they can move, but if they can stand that, they can show their ability on the pitch and get more chances.

“It is just a player's mind. Which one is the right way? There are no answers.”

“Man United has a lot of players. Someone can't play every game in one season because it is too hard. He can't show his ability 100 percent. You need rotation because he will be tired.”

Despite being seen as a bit part player for much of his time at United, Park is in line to start the Champions League final after being left out of the squad completely for last year's victory over Chelsea in Moscow.

Ferguson described it as one of the hardest decisions of his managerial career to omit Park from his squad. But with Darren Fletcher suspended and Owen Hargreaves injured, the midfielder is guaranteed at least a place on the bench.

He says the disappointment of last season was the ideal motivation to ensure he was involved this time around.

“It was very disappointing because all footballers want to play in big games like the final,” he said. “So if you have the chance and then cannot play, it is heartbreaking.

“I had that heartbreak, but our team is one that wins titles and I am happy to be part of that team.

“I used it as motivation. I believed United could get to the final again and I wanted to be there this time.

“I kept working hard and finally I have one more chance. Hopefully this time it is different to last season.

“It was the biggest disappointment in my career so far. I've had crucial injuries, but this was the hardest thing.”

And while he will be there to comfort anyone who is unlucky enough to be omitted this time around, Park says words cannot dampen the disappointment.

“Nobody can talk to them because it is a heartbreak,” he said. “You just have to get over it yourself and believe that the next time or in the future you can do something.”